Protector for drive shaft joints



Dec. 24, 1935.

c. c. BISHOFF Filed Jan. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7w i M A7} M @I -Q? J /2 v4 3 l Inventor flhz/Zas' (1513/2 eff M A tldrney Dec. 24, .1935. c. c. BISHOFF PROTECTOR FOR DRIVE SHAFT JOINTS Filed Jan. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5.4.4519 3971. 44 :CPCtCE-uvFZ-Lv-r-b 53.33.43.221 I l I I I l l I l 1 7.. :LPI zzwwcrrhwcnrwwmkw .L

C. ll I 'Uk y l I I I A tlorney Patented 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I PROTECTOR FOR DRIVE JOINTS 7 Charles C. Bishofi, -Fairmont, W. Va."

7 Application January 15, 1932, Serial No. 586,942

3 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in coverings in the form of protectors for the universal joints of drive shafts, and is especially adapted for use on the driveshafts of automobiles.

Such protectors are quite generalin use on different makes of automobiles, and they frequently require replacement. This job of replacing these protectors is quite tedious and the service charge is quite high in most establishments.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a shaft ,joint covering which can be rapidly removed and replaced with equal rapidity.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a protector in the form of a covering for shaft joints which can be manufactured and sold at low cost.

These and other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings;- a v Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the covering installed over a joint.

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the protector.

Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of the covering in stretched position.

Fig. 4 represents a cross sectional view take substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of one of the side members.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 represents the drive side of the coupling which is in the form of a socket having a reduced shoulder 6, whilenumber 1 represents the driven side of thejoint with the male elementll projecting lnto the socket structure 5.

. The protector which is generally referred to by numeral 9 bridges the space between the shaft I and the collar 6 and serves to prevent dust and grit from mingling with the grease on the ele- This covering 9 consists of a substantially rectangular sheet ll of leather, suede, or some othersuitable material having hems ll-ll along the longitudinal edge portions thereof. These hems are open at their ends and it is preferable that one end of the sheet Ill be cut of! on a bias in view I of the difference in diameters between the collar gether in the manner shown in Fig. 4, form one form of the well known multiple fastener type 01' 10 closure, the sliding connector being denoted b numeral l4.

Numeral I5 is a guide member which when the fastening'assemblies are set together will serve to guide the connector I4 into a position where it can by being slid longitudinally of the strips i2--l2 connect the fastening elements l3 together. Numeral l5 represents an abutment on each strip l2-for stopping the sliding connector it when it has connected the ends of the sheet in the manner shown in Fig. 1

Projecting into each hem II is a ductile metallic strip l6, which inside of thehem connects to one end of a coiled extensible spring Il.

At the remaining end of each hem, an eye member I8 is permanently secured by a-rivet N which passes through an opening 20 therein. Each of these eye members I8 is also provided with a small opening 2| for receiving the remaining end/of the corresponding spring ll. 80

It can now be seen, that in applying the protector, the sheet Ill is wrapped around the joint so that the longitudinal edge portion, more specifically the hems ll|l will circumscribe the shoulderG and the adjacent end of the shaft 1. 86 Thestrips I6 are now pulled a substantial distance outwardly and inserted through the eyes l8 and this operation obviously. tensions the springs I! so that the longitudinaledge portions of the sheet i0 firmly grip the shoulder 6- and adjacent end of the shaft 1..

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, it will be observed that one of the strips 16 passes overone of the reinforcing strips or bindings l2 inwardly of the slidable connector it when the protector g that numerous changes in the shape, size and 56 claim as new is:--

materials maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described my invention, what I 1. In combination, a wrapper, securing means for the wrapper, said means comprising an extensible spring, securing means attaching one end of the spring to the wrapper, a ductile strap extending from the opposite end oi the spring, and an eyelet at the secured end of the spring for receiving the said ductile strap.

2. In combination, a wrapper having hems at its edges, and a securing means for the wrap- 15 per at each of said edges, each oi said securing means comprising an extensible spring in one 01 the hems, securing means attaching one end osages oi the spring to the wrapper, a ductile strap extending irom the opposite end 01 the spring and through the hem, and an eyelet at the secured end of the spring ior receiving the said ductile strap. a

3. In combination, a wrapper having hems at its edges, means for detachably connecting the ends of the wrapper, and a securing means for the wrapper at each of the said edges, each of said' securing means comprising an extensible 10 spring in one oi the hems, securing means attaching One end oi the spring to the wrapper, a ductile strap extending from the opp site end of the spring and through the hem. and an eyelet at the secured end or the spring for receiving 15 said ductile strap.

CHARLES C. BISHOFF. 

